Golf-driving recorder



Filed Nov. 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet a llillvllyk Q 1 fl: QS Qfimggm 6 J Z #35 MW 4 Z ma i R W $wk M 5 WW mwnsm nmfit 695Gb ks r m June 18; 1929. DECKER 1 1,717,763

GOLF DRIVING RECORDER Filed Nov. 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIULIUUUUUU Patented June 18, 1929.

UNETED STATES mans I 'JfHEOIIDORiE H. DECKER, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

GOLF-DRIVING RECORDER.

Application filed November 29, 1926. Serial No. 151,295.

This invention relates to a golf driving recorder particularly adapted to be used 1ndoors for afiording practice in drlvlng.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device that may be used for record ing the length of drives, whereby the progress and skill of the driver may. be determined with relative accuracy.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that may be used in connection with an indoor golf ame to atford practice in the art of driving, as well as amusement and pleasure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus having a flex ble wall against which a golf ball may be driven and a recording device actuated by the impact of the golf ball against the wall, the force of the impact being transmitted through an enclosed fluid body. g

Other and further objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying. the principles of thls 1nvention. Y

Figure 2 is a reduced top plan view of the same. a

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view.

Fi re 4- is an enlarged sectional view taken substantiallyon line IV-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the recording device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a hollow member comprising a relatively-shallow box having a rigid rear wall 2 and a flexible front wall 3 preferably formed of-canvas or other fabric material and secured to the side walls 4 in a bulged condition. The

box 2 is preferably substantially rectangular and stands upon its longer edge. A plurality of cords 5 are secured at spaced intervals to the rear of the flexible wall 3 and to eye bolts 6 secured in the rear wall 2. An extension 7 is provided at the rear of the box communicating with the interior thereof through an opening 8 in the rear wall 2. A motor driven blower or fan 9 is connected to said extension 7 for supplying air to the interior of the box to maintain the flexible wall 3 in distended position. An openin or vent 10 in one wall of the extension provided with a sliding damper 11 is adapted, to control the air pressure within the hollow member 1. A freely seated cover 12 normally closes the extension chamber 7. To said cover 12 there is secured a lever 13 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a support 14 by means of a pivot pin 15 journalled in said support. A counter weight 16 slidably mounted on the free end of lever 13 serves to counterbalance the weight of the cover 12.

An indicating device represented as. a whole by the numeral 17 is mounted at one end of the hollow box 1 at right angles to lever 13. Said indicating device 17 comprises an are shaped panel 18 having pegs 19 secured therein at regularly spaced intervals. Corresponding to eachv of said pegs are indicia representing the number of yards which the ball has been driven, as will later be explained. A pointer 20 pivotally mounted upon a support 21 is adapted to swing in the plane of the panel 18, said pointer being provided with a. flexible tip 22 for contactlng the pegs 19. The other end of the pointer 20 extends under the free end of the lever 13 for actuation thereby when the cover 12 is raised. In order to i provide means for adjusting the pointer 20 for calibration purposes, there is provided a disk 30 on the pointer pivot pin 31 and a brake shoe 32 pivoted from the support arm 33 as at 34 and adapted to bear against the disk 30. movable weight 35 on the brake arm 34 serves to vary the friction between the shoe 32 and the disk to effect adjustments in the swing of the pointer 20.

In using the device the player stands a short distance in front of the apparatus and drives the ball against the flexible wall 3. For the purpose of making a regular game out of the device, the, wall 3 may be divided into various concentric areas such as 23, re resenting the fairway 24 representing t e rough, 25 representing tra s, and 26 representing out of bounds, an a lower area 27 representing a bunker. The various areas allotted are pureiy arbitrary and may be varied as to relative size or position. Whenupward movement of the cover 12 causes the free end of the lever- 13 to force the adjacent end of the pointer 20 downwardly. Said pointer 20 is accordingly rotated .and the degree of rotation recorded by its position of rest after the force of the blow delivered by the lever 13 has been expended. As the pointer 20 rotates the flexible tip 22 gives sufliciently to allow it to pass over the pegs 19 but it is sufliciently rigid to prevent the pointer from dropping of its own weight after the ener of the blow has been expended. The l g ngth of the drive may thus be read off the panel 19 directly in yards. Since the device may be readily calibrated the results obtained are sufiiciently accurate to justif the basing of conclusions as to the skill an strength of the drive.

It willof course be obvious that as soon as the cover 12 is raised upon the impact of the ball against the wall 3, the ressure necessary to hold the wall 3 in distended position will no longer be eflective' for that purpose. The wall 3 will therefore collapse and thus deaden the force of the golf ball,

consequently the amount of rebound of the golf ball is negligible and no danger from rebounding balls will experienced. During the entire time that the device is in use, the fan 9 is kept running to supply air in suflicient quantity to maintain the exible wall 3 in distended position. Should the amount of air supplied for this purpose be more than sufiicient the gate 11 may be raised to rovide for an escape of the air through t e opening 10. The cover 12 should of course be normally maintained in position to close the extension chamber 7 and this may be effected b sliding the counter weight 16 to balance tb pressure of the air within the hollow member 1.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not ur limiting the patent grantedptherwlse than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An impact recorder, comprising a hollow member having an opening therein and a flexlble wall, means for supplying air to said member to maintain said wall in distended position, a freely seated closure mem-' her for said opening, and an indicator connected to said closure member actuated by movement of said closure member, the movement of said indicator being proportional to 'the force of a ball driven against said flexible wall.

2. An impact recording device, comprising a hollow member having a flexible wall, means for supplying air to said member to maintain said wall in distended condition, and means for regulating the air pressure within said member.

3. In a golf drive recording device, a hollow member having a flexible wall, means for supplying air to said member to maintain said wall in distended condition, means for regulating the air pressure within said member, and means for suddenly releasing the pressure within said member upon the im pact of a driven golf ball against said wall.

4. In a golf drive recording device, a hollow member having a flexible wall, means for supplying air to said member to maintain said wall in distended condition, means for regulating the air pressure within said member, means for suddenly releasing the pressure within said member upon the impact of a driven golf ball against said wall, and a pointer actuated by said pressure releasing means to record the length of the drive.

5. A golf driving recorder, comprising a hollow member having a flexible wall, means for maintaining sli htly greater than atmospheric pressure wit in said member, and indicating mechanism responsive to suddenly increased pressure within said member as caused by the impact of a golf ball against said flexible wall.

6. A golf driving recorder, comprisin a hollow member having a relatively light flexible wall against which a ball may be driven, meansfor maintaining suflicient air pressure Within said member to hold said wall slightly distended, means movable by suddenly increased pressure within said member caused by the impact of a ball against said flexible wall to release the excess pressure, and indicating mechanism actuated by movement of said movable means.

7. An impact recording device of the class demribed, comprising a box-like member having one o 11 side, a flexible wall covering said opensid against which a golf ball may be driven, said wall having lines defining concentric areas and indicia within said areas representing the fairway, rough, bunkers, and the like and s aced at difierentdistances from the center 0 said wall whereby a ressure change within-said devise set up y a ball striking said wall within one of said areas is proportionate to the pressure change set up when a ball strikes the center of said wall and which proportionate difference represents the difference in travel of a ball properly played and the one improperly played.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

THEODORE H. DECKER. 

